Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 27, 1993 TAG: 9301270133
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
BOARD DENIES SAWMILL-EXPANSION REZONING
Reacting Monday night to opposition by neighbors of a county sawmill, the Board of Supervisors denied a rezoning and special-use permit that would have made way for expansion of the mill.The supervisors turned down Turman Lumber Co.'s request to rezone 32.47 acres from agricultural to industrial. The rezoning coupled with a special-use permit would have cleared the way for the expansion of a bark mulch operation at the sawmill.
In denying the rezoning by a 5-1 vote, the supervisors rejected the recommendation of the county Planning Commission, which supported the rezoning 5-4.
Several neighbors of the sawmill spoke at a board hearing earlier this month against the rezoning. Some were back at Monday night's meeting.
The neighbors complained about noise, dust, smoke and increased truck traffic created by the mill, which is located on Fire Tower Road off U.S. 11 between Christiansburg and Radford.
A mulch pile at the mill was on fire all weekend, Robert Brighton, a neighbor, said. "We don't know why the planning committee says yes to everything that goes on out there."
But the Planning Commission noted that studies by a consultant and the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office showed noise levels at the mill within acceptable limits. The commission said the company had agreed to limit its new operations to the hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The commission pointed out that a study showed dust at the mill also was within permissible limits.
But some supervisors questioned the reliability of those one-day studies.
"A real study of noise would involve more tests," Supervisor Henry Jablonski said. Atmospheric conditions can have a lot to do with the the way noise travels, he said.
Jablonski said he had had many telephone calls from residents during the past two years - some as late as 11 p.m. - from people complaining about the mill.
Supervisor Larry Linkous of Blacksburg was the only supervisor willing to support the rezoning.
Mike Turman, one of the sawmill's owners said he wasn't sure what he would do now. He has other operations in Patrick, Franklin, Floyd and Carroll counties, he said. Under the county's zoning ordinance, the company must wait 12 months before re-applying to have the land rezoned. The company also could challenge the county's action in circuit court.
Another rezoning request Monday night fared better.
The supervisors unanimously approved the rezoning of 155 acres next to the new Falling Branch Elementary School from agricultural to planned industrial to make way for a new county industrial park. Several residents of the area, including the principal of the new school, had spoken against the rezoning during a public hearing.
The county has an option on the property, which is owned by Dale D. Teel.
Conditions of the rezoning require consideration of the use of earthen berms to screen the industrial site from the elementary school, a 50-foot set-back requirement for all buildings and parking lots from the front, side and rear property lines of the industrial park, and construction of erosion control structures.
Before the rezoning, the supervisors amended the county's comprehensive plan to change the designation of part of the Falling Branch community from a rural area to an urban-expansion area.
In other action, the board:
Heard once again from a large group of residents from the Ironto-Bradshaw Valley area, who spoke against any plans the county might have to locate a new landfill along Flatwoods Road.
"It seems like a nightmare to me," said Norma Wells, who lives about a half mile from the potential landfill site.
Save Our Soil, an organization of landfill opponents, asked about the status of several questions they asked the board to answer about its landfill plans. Later in the evening, the board decided it wasn't in a position yet to discuss whether it has plans for a landfill in the area.
Approved a rezoning to make way for the construction of 32 multifamily dwelling units on 5.8 acres off Farmview Drive between Christiansburg and Blacksburg.